There is a great debate about the benefits and side effects of the new revolutionary oral contraceptive pills called lybrel. Lybrel and generic lybrel producers stating that there are huge benefits from administrating the drug in such way but other competitors are claiming that administrating the drug for a period of one year without monthly rest or without allowing the monthly period to occur may affect the body status.

Let us browse through the advantages and disadvantages of lybrel together:

The advantages of lybrel or generic lybrel

First we should declare that there is no medical benefit of having a menstrual week while you are on pills because it is, in fact, not a menstrual cycle but it is a withdrawal bleeding occurs because on day 21 we stopped administrating hormones so, after another 7 days withdrawal bleeding occurs as a sign of hormone withdrawal.

According to this the FDA approved drug, lybrel, eliminated this annoying week for the whole year long and with out any clinical risks.

Field researches done by California University, declared that a reasonable percent of women would prefer not to have menstrual cycle through out the year, not to mention those who do not want to have menstrual cycle at all.

You do not need to purchase feminine hygiene and adjuvant drugs to pass this annoying week of menstruation. You will be saving a lot of money through out the year.

Administrating hormones with equal amounts every day for the whole year helps in maintaining a constant level of hormones in your body instead of the wave that occur with the ordinary pill.

The lybrel contains a micro hormonal dose so the whole amount of hormones administered in the whole year equals to those administered by other cyclic pills which are containing larger amounts of hormones.

The disadvantages and draw backs

While there is a reasonable percent who prefer not to have menstrual cycle there is another percent who prefer to have their monthly period as a sign of being still capable of being pregnant and in the same time assure that they are not pregnant right now. Also some women consider the monthly period as an undetached part of their personalities.

Some users of non cyclic pills detected spotting or escaped bleeding with the regular administration of the pills.

Although long administration of pregnancy hormones had not been proved to be related to breast cancer but some physicians declared that they are concerned of the very long non stop administration of a certain drug.

Also lybrel has the common side effects of other oral contraceptive pills, nausea and vomiting, heart diseases, allergy and headache. You can over come the nausea by taking the pill with food. If vomiting or diarrhea occurred during the first 4 hours of administration then you must retake the pill again and keep the following dose in its original time.

Generally heart diseases increase in case of women who smoke and are on contraceptive pills. So, if you are on contraceptive pills then you should quit smoking or at least keep it to the minimum level to avoid the risks of heart diseases.

Contraceptives

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The oral contraceptive Lybrel is fairly new to the U.S. Market. It is FDA approved for use as a birth control pill. What makes Lybrel unique from other oral contraceptives is that the women taking Lybrel never has her period while on the drug. This means there is a side benefit associated with Lybrel – these women also do not suffer the common uncomfortable distractions associated with menstrual cycles such as moodiness and pelvic region cramping.

Lybrel is mainly used as a contraceptive medication but there are other reasons why a woman might take Lybrel. It contains a combination of female hormones that thwart a women’s ability to ovulate. It is doing its job if the sperm has a difficult time reaching the uterus because of cervical mucus changes and alterations to the lining of the uterus. It also becomes more difficult for the ovum when fertilized, to attach itself to the wall of the uterus.

Lybrel s prescribed primarily as an oral contraceptive but there are occasions when a treating physician will prescribe Lybrel for an “off label” purpose. This means that a particular medication is approved by the FDA for a specific purpose but through the use of that drug or observations made during drug trials, other benefits are found for the drug. The practice of off labeling has been around for quite awhile and chances are many people have an off label prescription in the medicine cabinet now in generic form.

Off label uses for Lybrel are being utilized to treat these subsequent ailments.
• Treatment of variations of acne
• Serious Menstrual blood loss
• Irregularity of menstruation cycles
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder or PMMD is a severe form of PMS present in about 5% of menstruating women. PMMD symptoms are very debilitating to those who suffer from it.

Contraceptive medications such as Lybrel that contain Estrogen based hormones; in this case [ethinylestradiol] should always be taken with caution. The caveats in this case are health risks that must be weighed against the benefits of taking Lybrel. You should avoid Lybrel if you have a history of stroke or you have experienced blood clotting or have circulatory problems particularly due to diabetes.

Stay away from Lybrel if you have a cancer caused by hormones such as cancer of the breast or uterus, any atypical bleeding from the vagina, cancer of the liver or liver related illnesses. High blood pressure can be a serious problem for potential Lybrel users, migraine headaches, and heart disorders related to valves, a history of jaundice from taking birth control pills. Ingesting hormones could amplify your vulnerability to blood clots, stroke, and heart attack via coronary heart disease particularly if you are a smoker over the age of 35.

Before taking Lybrel you should be aware of other risks associated with it such as birth defects. If you are a pregnant women you should avoid using Lybrel. See your doctor immediately if you happen to become pregnant or if you skip to menstrual cycles back to back. If you are a recent mother avoid Lybrel for 4 weeks post delivery before starting the Lybrel protocol and wait 6 weeks if you are a nursing. The following is a list of conditions that will justify avoiding Lybrel use:

• As mentioned earlier blood clots and stroke in your past.
• Circulation problems or diabetic neuropathy
• Any cancers caused by hormones
• Unnatural vaginal blood loss
• Disease of the liver, jaundice due to birth control pills, or cancer of the liver
• High blood pressure classified as severe
• Extreme migraine headaches
• Any sort of valve problems with the heart
You should also consult with your physician before taking Lybrel if you have any of the following risks:
• Coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, angina, blood pressure problems, or a record heart attacks at all.
• Are you overweight or have cholesterol problems?
• Have you ever suffered from or a being treated for depression?
• Disease of the gall bladder
• Or diabetes
• Have you ever suffered from seizures, epileptic or otherwise?
• Have you had an asymmetrical menstrual cycle?
• Do you have a history of breast fibroids or cysts? What about lumps in general, nodules or a past questionable mammogram?
• Have you ever suffered from uterine fibroid tumors?
• Varicose veins or TB?

Hormones can be passed to your newborn through breast milk so avoid Lybrel when breast feeding and understand that your creation of breast milk may be hampered due to taking Lybrel. You should simply avoid Lybrel while breast feeding period.

You should take Lybrel exactly how your physician or clinician has recommended your dosage should be taken. Lybrel should never be taken in great quantities, nor should you be taking it for a long period of time. Seriously discuss with your physician what your exit strategy will be from taking Lybrel over the long term or any form of contraceptive for that matter. You should take your first dose of Lybrel on day one of your period or the first Sunday after the beginning of your cycle. Your doctor will give you precise information.

As with most form of oral birth control you may be advised to use alternate methods of birth control for a few weeks while the Lybrel adjusts in your system so caution is recommended. Lybrel is a low dose birth control pill that distributes minimum effectual doses of hormones into your body on a daily basis. Certain types of birth control pills will work on a twenty eight day cycle with three weeks on and one week off. For three weeks you will take a different strength pill for each of the three seven day cycles [i.e. Ortho 7-7-7]. The fourth week you will have your period and this should happen like clockwork, hence the cycle regulation factor of contraceptives.

Some twenty eight day birth control pill varieties will have a seven day “placebo” or “reminding” pill to make it easier to remember to take your next round of pills. You will likely experience your period during the placebo pill week.

Many clinicians believe that there is really no healthful reason to experience a period during the time you are on a birth control protocol. Going without a period for 365 days with Lybrel is really no different than taking the traditional twenty-eight day cycle pill since both are avoiding chance of pregnancy by hormonal means and gynecologists, for the most part, like what they see with Lybrel.

Many physicians have been advising their patients to forget about the seven day placebo tablets in at the end of a cycle and simply begin the new pack. The method to their thinking is the blood flow is relatively minor anyway and is not a true period since the uterus is not actually discharging the lining and the process is far from a natural period. There is also the fact that most discomfort when menstruating occurs during the week of the flow so continuing to take the pill means alleviating this discomfort for many women. A full 75% are known to suffer from some level of Premenstrual discomfort.

One Professor of gynecology and obstetrics summed it up when he said that women do not need to have a period and added that throughout history women were either pregnant or breast feeding in their child bearing years and thus were not experiencing their periods anyway. Some have speculated that since birth control pills were prescribed on a monthly cycle over the years allowing for the fourth week bleeding period; this was a reflection of what women themselves would want. This theory not being entirely physiologically necessary.

Lybrel is to be taken on a daily basis and never more than twenty four hours between 1 dose and another. When one package is finished, the next one should be started immediately the next day preferably at the same time to make it easier to remember. It is critical to take your Lybrel as prescribed since if you miss a pill or are erratic with your routine you may get pregnant. Always be sure to have your prescription refilled early to ensure you have enough on hand for a seamless dosage protocol.

In the event you are seeing a specialist or having surgery for any reason you should inform the new doctor of your Lybrel use. This goes for any medical testing you may be required to undergo. If it is mandatory that you must have complete bed rest it may be necessary to cease using Lybrel for a bit, you can start again when needed. Many physicians want to see their Lybrel patient on a regular basis especially if you are taking Lybrel for an off label reason. Otherwise most doctors will be satisfied with an annual or semiannual appointment and give you refills at that time. Always store your open and unused Lybrel at room temperature and avoid moisture, heat, and direct light.

Remember that if you miss taking a Lybrel pill you are enhancing your risk factor for getting pregnant. If you happen to miss taking your next “live” pill you should have two pills the day you remember than continue to have one pill daily for the remainder of that pack. Should you forget to have two “live “pills back to back missing two days in each of week one and two, take two pills a day for two days straight than follow up with your regular one pill a day for the remainder of the pack. You should also use alternative birth control methods for the next week or more to be on the safe side.

If those two forgotten pills occur in week three of your regimen or if you forget three “live” pills back to back to back in any of the three previous weeks, toss out your old pack and immediately start a new one on that very day if you have been a day one user. If you start your regimen on a Sunday, continue to take a pill every remaining day until Sunday than throw away your old packet and begin a new one immediately that first Sunday.

With standard birth control if you miss a couple pills in a row, you may not have your period during that cycle; if you miss your period for two months consecutively you should call your doctor since you may be pregnant. If you take the twenty eight day – three week cycle pill and miss the one of the placebo week pills, toss away the remaindering placebo pills and keep taking a pill per day until the package is empty. There is no need to use alternate birth control if you forget your placebo pills.

You should immediately get emergency treatment if you feel you have taken too much Lybrel. If you have overdosed your symptoms could consist of vomiting and nausea as well as some vaginal bleeding. Always be sure to keep your Lybrel, or any medications, out of the reach of children and pets [if a pet eats your medication you can call an emergency pet poisoning hotline if one exists in your area for information].

While you are taking your Lybrel regimen there are some things you should be aware of and also avoid. It is important that you do not smoke if you take Lybrel or any other form of birth control, especially if you are more than thirty five years of age. Smoking has been proven to increase the chances you will have a stroke, venous thrombosis or blood clots or a heart attack. Smoking while on Lybrel is not something you should risk or take lightly.

Lybrel will not protect you from STD’s or sexually transmitted diseases and that is counting the AIDS virus or HIV. Using a condom will offer your only protection from STD’s, not oral contraceptives. Young adults or late teens should be particularly aware of this caution since many will depend and believe in what they hear rather than what they learn from knowledgeable sources such as school nurses, guidance counselors or family physicians.

Like most medications, taking Lybrel can result in some individuals experiencing certain side effects. Some are more serious than others are and may require immediate cessation of the medication. You should seek out immediate emergency medical assistance if you begin to show any of the following allergic reaction symptoms. Breaking out in hives, difficulty with your breathing, if you experience inflammation in your tongue, face, mouth area and throat.

Stop taking Lybrel and see your physician right away or get to an urgent care clinic if you experience any of the following harsh side effects:

• Any weakness or numbing sensation specifically if it is in one side of the body
• If you get a swiftly occurring headache, experience confusion or mental disorder, inner eye pain or vision problems, slurred speech, trouble balancing
• Chest heaviness or pain that radiates down to the arm and shoulder, nausea and sweats and a general feeling of poor health
• Migraine headaches with irregular patterns and harshness.
• Dehydration, nausea with stomach pain and no appetite, dark urine, jaundice or yellowing of the eyes and skin
• Swollen feet, ankles, and hands
• Depression, insomnia, lethargy, mood swings
Some of the lesser side effects with Lybrel could consist of:
• Mild nausea with vomiting, feeling of fullness and stomach spasms
• Painful breast or nipple soreness
• Facial skin pigmentation changes or blotches
• Excess hair growth or scalp balding
• Unexpected weight loss and diminished appetite
• Discomfort or contact lens trouble
• Vaginal itch or discharge
• Changes in menstrual cycle, diminished libido
• Head pain, nervous feeling, wooziness, general feeling of malaise

This list is by no means complete and Lybrel has only been on the market for a short time. You should notify your doctor if you sense any different feelings or experience unfamiliar discomfort.

There are other drugs that could interact negatively with Lybrel. Some will reduce the effect of the birth control aspect of Lybrel and could cause unintended pregnancy. So before you start using Lybrel make sure your clinician is aware of any other medications you have been prescribed and specifically discuss with your physician if you are on any of the following medications:
• Vitamin C regimen or ascorbic acid
• If you are taking any strength of acetaminophen brand name Tylenol
• Prednisolone or Orapred
• Respbid or Theo-Dur [Theophylline]
• The antibiotic Cyclosporine, Neoral, Gengraf. Antibiotics can reduce the effectiveness of the Lybrel
• St John’s Wort which is a natural herb that claims to successfully fight depression
• If you are taking any seizure medications
• Any barbiturates or sedatives such as Seconal [secobarbital] or phenobarbital [luminal or Solfoton] and you are cautioned about taking any AIDS or HIV medications or antiviral meds. Obviously with these latter contraindications you will want to speak to your physician about what your oral birth control options are if not Lybrel while medicating for such a serious illness.

Avoid using any new medications without discussing them with your physician first. This list is not absolute so discussing any new medications you introduce to your system could save your life or assist in avoiding certain unintended consequences. Any ill feeling after ingesting over the counter meds [OTC] or other prescriptions drugs, natural products or herbal supplements including any vitamins, minerals or naturopath remedies, tell your doctor. NEVER share your medication with anyone else and Lybrel should be used to treat only the condition that it was prescribed for, nothing else.

Contraceptives

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Ethinylestradiol or EE as it is sometimes referred to belongs to a collection of therapeutic drugs called estrogens and they are widely used to treat female medical issues. Ethinylestradiol has been frequently used as an estrogen replacement therapy on its own known simply as an ERT or together with progestagen to make up one of either a contraceptive drug or a total hormone replacement therapy or HRT combination used primarily as a therapy to relieve the menopausal symptoms, a lot of women experience during the ‘change of life’. Ethinylestradiol has also been used on men with prostate cancer as a treatment and in women who experience harsh and painful disarray with their menstrual cycles and has been effective in treating both disorders.

The average women experiences menopause at its maximum discomfort level around age 51 and menopause can begin as early as age 40 or as late as age 60 in rare cases. It is during this time that a women’s body chemistry begins to change as a result of hormone levels falling and the resulting menopausal symptoms can be unbearable for some females. This is where many physicians will turn to hormone replacement therapy to replenish these lost hormones. When the replacement occurs the effects of the change are alleviated, symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats etc. are controlled and patients experience relief.

Osteoporosis is another major symptom of menopause and at the first sign of trouble; physicians usually test a patient’s bone density before they initiate treatment with Ethinylestradiol or overall HRT. Normally clinicians will resort to other forms of treatment for osteoporosis before they bring out the big therapeutic guns of ERT or HRT to treat this bone thinning disease. Ethinylestradiol is available in tablet form for easy oral intake.

It’s always a good idea before you take Ethinylestradiol that you discuss with your physician, pharmacist or better yet both to make sure they understand all of the following:

• That you are still at the age where you could have children or if you are a nursing mother
• That you have ailments of the kidney, heart problems of any kind or you suffer from high blood pressure and if you have gall bladder trouble.
• If you are prone to migraines, suffer from epilepsy, have the blood problem porphyria, are diabetic or asthmatic.
• Tell them if you now have or ever have had thrombosis, which is a blood-clotting problem.
• What about multiple sclerosis or MS? They should be told. Numbness and tingling in extremities caused by tetany or sickle cell anemia.
• Pemphigoid gestationis or pregnancy itching should be discussed, endometriosis as well.
• Tell them if you endure systemic lupus erythematosus known as SLE or if you have extreme calcium levels in your blood known as hypercalcaemia.
• Tell them If you experience mobility problems because of bed restriction or if you are wheelchair bound.
• Do you have a hearing impediment caused by a disease of the inner ear bones called otosclerosis?
• Do you suffer from cancer of the uterus or breast now or in your lifetime or is there a familial record of the disease?
• Have you experienced unexpected and undiagnosed vaginal blood loss?
• Have there been any major accidents or trauma of any kind in your life recently?
• Have you recently undergone or plan to undergo any surgical procedures?
• Is there a record of you experiencing an allergic reaction to Ethinylestradiol or some other medications?
• Also, be sure to mention if you are on any other medications, whether they be prescription, over the counter [OTC] or any of the herbal or health supplements variety.

As with any medication you should follow your physicians instructions completely and always read the pharmaceutical companies medicine brochure before commencing your Ethinylestradiol therapy. The pharmacist should also provide you with a printout for any prescription that they are dispensing to you.

When you are ready to start taking your meds always try to have your medication at the exact time of day since it will be easier to remember your doses. If by chance, you miss a time you should take the Ethinylestradiol as soon as you remember than carry on with your normal protocol. If it was almost time for your next dose when you remembered, forget about the missed pill, as you should ever double up on your Ethinylestradiol. If you are not sure, ask for assistance from the pharmacy or physician, which is why they are there.

With any medication, you should never take more than the prescribed dosage of Ethinylestradiol unless your doctor says otherwise. In the event that you or a family member has overdosed on Ethinylestradiol, call your physician immediately or head to the urgent care clinic or emergency ward of the nearest hospital right away. Do not forget to take the pill bottle with you to identify the drug. Sometimes a physician may prescribe Ethinylestradiol to you just for particular days of your menstrual cycle and once again if you are unsure follow up with the professionals for the proper protocol. Finally understand that Ethinylestradiol was YOUR prescription only so you should never share your medications with other people despite any similarities in your conditions.

Certain over the counter medications can be harmful when mixed with your prescribed medication. Ethinylestradiol is no exception and you should consult with your pharmacist when considering any OTC meds for other ailments. Your pharmacist is probably the best person to speak with regarding drug interactions. This is what they are trained to do. Your physician may not be as up to date on details of certain drugs.

Taking ethinylestradiol is known to vary your blood sugar counts so if you are diabetic be sure you check your blood and or urine often while reporting any acute anomalies directly to your health care professional. You may also experience some dizziness while taking EE so it is advisable to rise up slowly from a sitting or lying down position. Remember that ethinylestradiol alone will not act as a contraceptive. If you require a contraceptive, be sure to ask your doctor’s advice which non-hormonal option is best for you. DO not use “The Pill”.

Ethinylestradiol has many benefits when used as a hormonal replacement therapy. Specifically Ethinylestradiol would be classified as an ERT or Estrogen Replacement Therapy since it is part of the estrogen group of hormones. HRT is an excellent treatment for stopping the nagging symptoms of menopause such as hot flushes, vaginal dryness and soreness, and alleviates those night sweats many menopausal women experience.

Hormone replacement is an excellent treatment to diminish the growth of osteoporosis and the probability of bones breaking because of them thinning. There is an added advantage of looking younger since HRT assists with skin elasticity by slowing the loss of collagen, the important protein responsible for replenishing skin tissue. Non-menopausal women who experience bone density loss and are receiving ERT therapy should be consulting their physician regularly for a review of their treatment protocol.

Recent studies have shown that long term, less frequent monitoring of HRT or ERT patients could cause health risks for these people. Seeing your doctor regularly and reporting any changes in your routine or wellbeing can be important. It is imperative that your physician be given an overall picture of how you are responding to treatment so an assessment can be made regarding extending treatment. It is not recommended that patients continue HRT or ERT for the long term. This study deduced that short term therapies be used for menopausal symptoms. It was this same research that determined that osteoporosis be treated by other means first prior to using hormone treatment.

Like most medicines, Ethinylestradiol has its advantages and disadvantages. Side effects are common but do not affect everyone the same. Your body will adjust over a period of time to most new medications but if you are NOT feeling any better when taking your prescribed dosage for a good period of time, you should speak to your physician about your problems with Ethinylestradiol immediately.

Some side effects experienced when taking Ethinylestradiol are feeling nauseous, stomach cramps, bloating and fullness. Some folks experience changes with their weight one way or the other, breast enlargement and soreness. Generally, you may experience the same PMS symptoms that many suffer from. Retaining fluids, skin rashes, brown skin blotching, libido swings, depression, migraine headaches are fairly common with some leg cramping. Others have reported eye irritation with contacts and persistent dizziness with body positioning. These are the types of side effects that may wane as you become more tolerant of the drug in your system.

Less frequent side effects but of much more concern and when medical assistance should be sought out are sudden and extreme chest pain, abrupt and swift breathlessness, coughing up of blood in mucus, calf pain in one leg that is severe should not be ignored nor should the recipient “tough it out”. If you experience harsh stomach pain, a painful and persistent headache, unexpected loss or limited vision impairment, sudden onset of auditory problems or other problems with your senses. Other serious effects could include severe indigestion or sudden fainting spells or collapsing episodes, epileptic seizures where none previously existed, general weakness and if movement is impaired. Also unexpected numbness in part or half of your body, jaundice or yellowing tinge of your eye whites and skin. A long list to be sure but all very serious signs that you may be in an immediate medical emergency and urgent care is required. A good rule of thumb is if you are worried about any odd reaction or feeling after starting any new medication, not just ethinylestradiol, you should get to your doctor pronto.

When you are storing Ethinylestradiol, it is vital to keep it away from children and it needs to be stored in a cool dry space. It is not likely your ethinylestradiol will remain past its effective date but throw out old medicines where they will not be troublesome or take the unused meds back to your pharmacy for disposal.

Contraceptives

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The side effects and reactions that can occur with increased Ethinylestradiol intake are many and varied. It is important to remember that not everyone experiences all of the side effects attributed to EE ingestion. Side effects of a severe nature are quite rare in women who take care of themselves and live a healthy lifestyle. As usual, you are deemed at higher risk if you smoke while taking contraceptives of any kind. It is said that women are generally more prone to complications due to pregnancy than those that may occur because of the intake of oral contraceptives. Many of the less severe side effects due to taking ‘the pill’ will become lessened and generally disappear once the body adjusts to the drug.

The development of abnormal growths, fibroids or cysts filled with fluid or a semi solid substance can be concerning to those who experience this adverse reaction. Many physicians will make the automatic assumption there is nothing to worry about but these formations should be investigated further. Some may experience blood in the urine and or cloudy discharge and even a decline in urine output. A bloated feeling of fullness can occur along with body aches and pains. Some users experience a cough with congestion that produces mucus and a general feeling of malaise or illness along with throbbing headaches.

There may be some discomfort when urinating or a need to urinate more frequently as well as a white or clear discharge from the vaginal region and nuisance itching in the rectal, vaginal or overall genital areas.. Some users experience a period of depression or a sad and empty feeling. Some may notice a lack of appetite and loss of strength. There could be a distinct loss of pleasure or interest in sexual intercourse and pain associated with sex. Some users complain of pain or neuralgia around the eyes and cheekbones and redness in the face, neck and chest region.

If the ethinylestradiol contraceptive is in skin patch form there can be redness, irritation and itchiness in that area where it is applied. Some will suffer from the chills and shivering and experience sleeplessness, stuffy nose and allergy-like symptoms. A tired feeling and trouble concentrating, sudden sweats may happen along with swollen neck glands, insomnia voice changes and a sensation of gassiness.

All these things considered, one must remember that it is important and FDA stipulated that any and all side effects and adverse reactions to medications be noted and presented. There is the potential for other side effects to occur other than those mentioned here. Your physician should be contacted if you are bothered by any symptom you feel is brought on by the introduction of ethinylestradiol based contraceptives into your system, especially in the early phase of the drug protocol.

Medication Interactions can occur when taking most medications and ethinylestradiol is no different. Because of the nature of the compound Ethinylestradiol there are a host of potential drug interactions a user should be aware. There may be little or no chance of the contraindication ever happening because the user may well never have a need for any of the drugs mentioned. That said, below is a list of medications anyone using or contemplating using ethinylestradiol should be aware if the need arises to take another drug with EE.

Consult with your physician or clinical care advisor before combining any of these medicines with Ethinylestradiol:

• Acetaminophen (i.e., Tylenol) (with long-term, high-dose use)
• Amiodarone (i.e., Cordarone)
• Anabolic steroids (Nandrolone [i.e., Anabolin], Oxandrolone [i.e., Anavar], Oxymetholone [i.e., Anadrol, Stanozolol [i.e., Winstrol])
• Androgens (male hormones)
• Anti-infectives by mouth or by injection (medicine for infection)
• Antithyroid agents (medicine for overactive thyroid)
• Carbamazepine (i.e., Tegretol)
• Carmustine (i.e., BiCNU)
• Chloroquine (i.e., Aralen)
• Dantrolene (i.e., Dantrium)
• Daunorubicin (i.e., Cerubidine)
• Disulfiram (i.e., Antabuse)
• Divalproex (i.e., Depakote)
• Etretinate (i.e., Tegison)
• Gold salts (medicine for arthritis)
• Hydroxychloroquine (i.e., Plaquenil)
• Isoniazid
• Mercaptopurine (i.e., Purinethol)
• Methotrexate (i.e., Mexate)
• Methyldopa (i.e., Aldomet)
• Naltrexone (i.e., Trexan) (with long-term, high-dose use)
• Oral contraceptives (birth control pills) containing estrogen
• Phenothiazines (Acetophenazine [i.e., Tindal], Chlorpromazine [i.e., Thorazine], Fluphenazine [i.e., Prolixin], Mesoridazine [i.e., Serentil], Perphenazine [i.e., Trilafon], Prochlorperazine [i.e., Compazine], Promazine [i.e., Sparine], Promethazine [i.e., Phenergan], Thioridazine [i.e., Mellaril], Trifluoperazine [i.e., Stelazine], Triflupromazine [i.e., Vesprin], Trimeprazine [i.e., Temaril])
• Phenytoin (i.e., Dilantin)
• Plicamycin (i.e., Mithracin)
• Valproic acid (i.e., Depakene) — Use of these medicines with estrogens may increase the chance of problems occurring that affect the liver
• Cyclosporine (i.e., Sandimmune) — Estrogens can prevent cyclosporine’s removal from the body; this can lead to cyclosporine causing kidney or liver problems.

Every drug, not just ethinylestradiol, can have multiple drug interactions. It is fortunate that today, many if not all pharmacies will provide a person with a list of these potential drug interactions when they have their prescriptions filled. If the pharmacist does not include this information with your prescribed medication simply, ask them for the drug interaction printout.

Contraceptives

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Ethinylestradiol or [EE] is a derivative compound formed from estradiol and is a bioactive estrogen used in nearly all modern combined contraceptive pills or better known as simply [The Pill]. It is likely among the most common drugs in use today and is normally marketed as NuvaRing. It was the first of many generic brands of synthetic estrogen.

Ethinylestradiol was the first orally activated synthetic steroidal estrogen known as 17α-ethynylestradiol and was first synthesized in 1938 by Hans Herloff Inhoffen and Walter Hohlweg out of Berlin at Scherling AG. EE gained FDA approval in the United States in 1943 and was being sold by Scherling under the name Estinyl. Scherling itself called for it to be withdrawn beginning on 24 June 2004, since they had stopped selling Estinyl.

Estradiol is quickly metabolized by the liver becoming inactive and though it is absorbed readily when taken orally. So certain substitutions of an ethinyl group were made that provided an estrogen that was far more hardy and disparate to rapid breakdown; this was the beginning and expansion of oral contraceptives.

EE absorption occurs in the small bowel and reaches peak effectiveness in the body within two hours. Ethinylestradiol goes through a broad metabolic process in the liver that involves the super family of hemoproteins and enzyme reactions causing the metabolized EE to be excreted in the bile. This reaction causes a secondary crest of the EE effect a few hours later. This process of absorption is far from fixed, as it will fluctuate in individuals with many variations occurring. These disparities in absorption will undergo further modifications caused by other drug use in combination with the EE. After this chemical process takes place, EE is then passed from the body in urine and feces as glucuronoside and sulfate chemical substances.

Ethinylestradiol is an effective hormonal drug because of its activation of the estrogen receptor, which makes it an estrogen. It is most commonly used as a combination estrogen and progestin, a synthetic progestagen, for the formulation of oral contraceptives. Formulations of contraceptives have decreased in strength with the amounts of EE required for effective doses due to advancements in research.

Anyone taking any estrogen-based medication for a prescribed condition should be advised to apply the same cautions with ethinylestradiol use as they would with any other estrogen medications when considering contraindications. It should be noted that Estinyl in its original form derived from EE was used as a medication to control medically control menopausal symptoms and hypogonadism [in females, a defect of the reproductive system that results in lack of function of the ovaries].

Ethinylestradiol has caused some concerns amongst those in the medical community because of the adverse nature of the synthesized hormone within the human anatomy and the effect on the environment from its release as a xenoestrogen through urine and feces from those who take and metabolize the drugs in their systems. These xenoestrogens have been drawn into controversy because of the potential to cause medical problems but unfortunately, there has been minimal evidence to back up these assumptions of how humans have reacted to their presence.

By far the biggest concern is that since the introduction of these xenoestrogens into the mainstream of pharmaceuticals they are causing a disturbance in the normal behavior of the reproduction systems in women AND men. Synthetic estrogen has the same effect as naturally produced estrogen, which can increase the development of the endimetrium, or the lining of the uterus, increasing the need for endometriosis treatment. In effect, the first line of defense is the immediate cessation of estrogen-based products from the system. The thickening of the lining of the uterus can extend into the muscular tissue causing the start of adenomyosis, which can result in painful menstruation or worse.

There have been some studies, which have shown a disturbing pattern in wildlife due to the introduction of estrogen into the flora and fauna due to societal waste expulsion. Because of the introduction of estrogen in women there is cause for concern that constant fetal contact with estrogen presence in the female that male birth defects such as hypospadias, or the misplacement of the male urethra and its abnormal opening.

There is also the concern of male reproduction capabilities because of low sperm counts being investigated due to estrogen toxicity. In 1993, the famed science journal The Lancet featured an article by researchers who apparently showed the relationship between dropping sperm levels in males because of the direct presence of estrogen while in the uterus.

Also on subject is the matter of what effect the presence of estrogen has on the oncogenes. These are the genes that for whatever reason when they are mutated or occur in higher levels can turn a normal cell into a cancerous cell. This is of major concern when dealing with breast cancer specifically and is causing quite a stir amongst those active in this community. Of course, there are those scientists who deem the threat by xenoestrogen to be benign in the levels currently found in the environment.

Contraceptives

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